The Tolkien Translation Game!
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
It has a bit of a Second Age vibe to it...
Was it spoken in Númenor?
Was it spoken in Númenor?
- Voronwë the Faithful
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Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
Nope!
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
Is it related to the “gift of men”?
'You just said "your getting shorter": you've obviously been drinking too much ent-draught and not enough Prim's.' - Jude
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Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
Nope. No men involved.
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
It must be Eöl to Turgon once he's been exposed as a traitor revealing the secret entrance to Gondolin, after Turgon gave him the choice of living permanently in the Hidden Kingdom or else death:
'The second choice I take and for my son also! You shall not hold what is mine!'
The Silmarillion, Of Maeglin
'The second choice I take and for my son also! You shall not hold what is mine!'
The Silmarillion, Of Maeglin
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Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
It must be!
Your turn, scirocco.
Your turn, scirocco.
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
Thank you, Voronwë. This looks like fun. Hopefully no-one's done it before. I haven't read over all 374 pages.
It really got itself confused with this one. The right words are in there to trigger peoples' memories, but it didn't grasp the meaning properly:
"Until the lightning bolt fell, I had never experienced fire and death through servants and their violent twists and turns."
It really got itself confused with this one. The right words are in there to trigger peoples' memories, but it didn't grasp the meaning properly:
"Until the lightning bolt fell, I had never experienced fire and death through servants and their violent twists and turns."
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Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
The more garbled it gets, the better!
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
Was it spoken during the Third Age?
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
Yes, during the War of the Ring.
I would say it’s a well known and memorable statement by a major character, not at all obscure, just horribly jumbled by the translation.
I would say it’s a well known and memorable statement by a major character, not at all obscure, just horribly jumbled by the translation.
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
First hint: “fire and death” - there’s only really one major character from that era that it can be. It is that character.
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
Denethor?
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
Oops! (Smacks head). I forgot about Denethor.
It’s the other one.
Further hint: in the original, the “lightning” reference comes at the end of the statement, not the beginning. I have no idea why the translator put it on the front.
It’s the other one.
Further hint: in the original, the “lightning” reference comes at the end of the statement, not the beginning. I have no idea why the translator put it on the front.
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
The other character that comes to mind is the Balrog, but it didn't say anything during its only recorded encounter...
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
Fire and death.
Which very major character goes through fire and death in the course of the War of the Ring? (And yes, it’s Balrog-related).
The next hint is that the original word “crooked” has been translated as “twisted”.
Which very major character goes through fire and death in the course of the War of the Ring? (And yes, it’s Balrog-related).
The next hint is that the original word “crooked” has been translated as “twisted”.
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
Ooh, I think I found it:
Gandalf brushing Grima aside.I have not passed through fire and death to bandy words with a serving-man till the lightning falls.
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
That’s it!
How on earth the translator got to its equilibrium phrase I do not know.
How on earth the translator got to its equilibrium phrase I do not know.
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
The ways of the artificial translator are dark and mysterious.
I don't think today's quote will be too hard - it never reached equilibrium, but it kept alternating between:
I don't think today's quote will be too hard - it never reached equilibrium, but it kept alternating between:
and:So are we.
So do we.
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
So do all who live to see such times?
The Vinyamars on Stage! This time at Bag End
Re: The Tolkien Translation Game!
Good guess, but no - the original is much shorter.